Spring-fork for bicyles.



H. 0. PRESTON, JR. SPRING PORK FOR BIGYOLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

H 5Vg m i. R. a E m I W LH HENRY C. PRESTON, JR., OF FALLSTON, MARYLAND.

SPRING-FORK FOR BICYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

Application filed January 11, 1909. Serial No. 471,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. PRESTON, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fallston, in the county of Harford, State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-Forks for Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention has reference to bicycles, and it residesprimarily in the production of an improved spring fork arranged tostraddle the steering wheel and connected with the main fork, forabsorbing the jar incidental to the passage of the wheel over roughroads.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a supplemental fork arrangedto straddle the steering wheel, as above stated, and having theterminals of its branches pivotally connected with the front ends of apair of rocking levers whose rear ends are pivoted to the terminals ofthe branches of the main fork, said levers being connected by a pair ofvertically-positioned retractile coil springs with a pair of clampssecured to the upper portions of the branches of the supplemental fork,the springs yielding during the passage of the wheel over obstructionsin its path, and over the rough portions of the road.

The invention further resides in the provision of a specially-formedpair of clamps which connect the branches of the main and supplementalforks together in such a manner as to hold'the wheel against lateral motion without affecting the steering thereof, and which also guide thesupplemental frame during the vertical movements thereof incidental tothe rising and falling of the wheel.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by thesame reference numerals throughout the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a frag mental side elevation of thefront end of a bicycle provided with the improved spring fork. Figs. 2and 3 are enlarged sectional views taken upon the lines 2-2 and 33 ofFig. 1, illustrative, respectively, of the manner in which the ends ofthe levers are connected with the terminals of the branches of theforks, and of the clamps which join tothe levers rock.

gether the upper portions of the branches of said forks. Fig. 4 is asection taken on the line 4 -t of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 7 designates, generally,the front fork of a bicycle, 8 the steering wheel associated therewith,and 9 a supplemental fork which straddles the wheel and has theterminals of its branches connected with the bolt 10, which serves as anaxle and passes through the hollow hub of the wheel, the details of suchconnection being described hereinafter.

The terminal of each branch of the main fork is formed with aperforation through which is passed a horizontal bolt 11 having a washerl2 fitted thereon. Upon each of these bolts, is loosely mounted atubular roller or sleeve 13 which is arrangedto be received within aperforation formed in the rear end of a forwardly extending lever 14,said rollers forming the fulcra upon which The front end of each leveris provided with a similar perforation in which is received a roller 15loosely mounted upon the adjacent end of the axle 10, there being awasher 16 interposed between the last mentioned end of each lever andthe adjacent face of the hub of the wheel.

The terminals of the branches of the supplemental yoke are likewiseperfora-ted so as to receive therein the outer ends of the rollers 15,which latter have a length slightly in excess of that of the rearrollers. The levers are held against displacement from the rollers bymeans of Washers 17 48, disposed respectively against the rear ends ofthe levers and the terminals of the supplemental yoke, and by nuts 19and 20 which are threaded upon the projecting ends of the bolts 10 and11, (the latter bolt forming the axle of the wheel, as above stated),and are arranged to be tightened against said washers 17 and 18. Eachlever is formed adjacent its rear end with a perforated ear 21, to whichis fastened the lower end of a retractile coil spring 22, whose upperend is fastened to a clamp 23 secured to the central portion of theadjacent branch of the supplemental yoke, the members of each clampbeing bolted together as shown.

Each branch of the main fork 7 has secured thereto a clamp 21 as shownin Fig. 3. These clamps which are formed of steel have the rear portionsthereof bifurcated, the

being bowed outwardly in opposite directions, intermediate" their ends,as indicated by the numeral 26.

The branches fit 'between said bowed portions, the fingers -mov- I ingaway from each other during the positioning of the clamps, owing to theresll'r' once of the metal of which the same are constructed. Thefingers are then clamped againstthe branches to the tallest possibleextent, by means of nuts and bolts 28 and 27', the bolts passing throughalining per-- forations formed in .the fingers. are thus rlgldlyattached to :the branches.

The clamps .mentary and mam fo k l t d Wholly The front portion of eachclamp 2a is provlded with a pair of lateral pins 29, a-r-, rangedaxially of thelclamp and in spaced relation to each other, each inhaving mounted thereon a roller .30. J ach pair of? rollers is arrangedto receive.thcl ebetweeng and to contact with the adjacentIb-ranch thesupplen iental fork, said rollers serving? to hold the latter againstdisplacement .and

to guide it during the rising and falling movements relative to themamfork, such movements being incidental to; the passage of the wheel .overrough portions of a road or over obstructions in the road. The roller-salso tend to hold the wheel against wabbling during the above.clescr-ibed movements, and for this reason, render the-steering of themachine easier.

From .the foregoing, it will be apparent that the wheel is mounted'yieldingly .with respect to the main fork, and that the latter and thesupplemental fork move in opposite directions when the wheel passes overob structions of any sort, thus tensioning the springs 22, said springsabsorbing the shocks which .would otherwise affect the rider.

lVhat is claimed 1s 1. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a'spring control-led wheel -,carryin;g mechanism pivotally connected tothe main i fork and including a supplemental fork; and a member rigidlysecured to each branch T of the main fork and loosely engaged with theadjacent branch of the supplementali fork, whereby movement of thelast-named fork relative to said members is permitted, and sprmgconnections between the supple mentary and main forks located wholly:

Without said supplementary for t.

2. In a bicycle, the combination. :of a main I 8. Tn 'b'icycle', thecombination of a main fork; a spring controlled wheel carrying mechanismpi-v-otally connected to the main fork and including a supplementalfork; and a member rigidly secured to each branch of the main fork andprovided with a pair of spaced guides between which the adjacentbranchof {the supplemental fork loosely passes, whereby niovement of thelast-named fork relative to said ,members is permitted, and springconnections between the supplewithoult said supplementary fork.

gt. In abicycle, the combination ad? a main fork; a spring-controlledwheel-carrying mechanism pivotallyconnected to the main fork andincluding a supplemental fork; and a member rigidly secured to eachbranch of the main fork and provided with a pair of rotatable guidesarranged for loose engagement with the adj acent branch .of thesupplemental fork, whereby moven-i'ent vof the last-named fork relativeto said members is permitted, and spring connectionsbetween .thesupplementary and main forks located wholly without said supplementaryfork.

5. In a bicycle, the combination of a mam fork; a spring-controlledwheel-carrying mechanism pivotally connected to the main fork andincluding a supplemental for (j; and a member rigidly secured to .eachbranch of the main fork and provided with a pair of spaced guide rollersbetween which the adjacent branch of the supplemental fork I looselypasses, whereby movementof the lastnamed fork relative to said membersis permitted, and sprm connections between the supplementary an 5 mainforks located wholly without sa id supplelfmentary fork.

=6. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; .a' spring-controlledwheel --.,car-rying mechanism pivotally connected to {the main fork andincluding a supplemental fork and a member rigidly secured to eachbranch of the ,main fork and provided'with a pair of horizontallymounted spaced guide rollers between which the adjacent branch of thesupplemental fork loosely passes, whereby movement .of the last-namedfork relative to said members is -permitted, (and springxconnectionsbetween the supplementary and main forks located wholly without saidsupplementary for-k. V

7. In a bicycle, the fork; a spring -controlled wheel -canryingmechanism pivota-lly connected to the main fork and including a-,supplemental fork; and a clamp formed at one end with a pairof fingerssecured to each branch of the main fork and having its-other end looselyengaged with the adjacent branch of they supplemental fork, wherebymovement of the last-named fork relative'to said memhers is permitted,and spring coimections bea tween the supplementary and \main for-kslocombination .of amain 1 cated wholly without said supplementary fork.

8. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a spring-controlledwheel-carrying mechanism pivotally connected to the main fork andincluding a supplemental fork; and a clamp formed at one end with a pairof spring fingers secured to each branch of the main fork and providedat its other end with a pair of spaced guides between which the adjacentbranch of the supplemental fork loosely passes, whereby movement of thelast-named fork relative to said members is permitted, and springconnections between the supplementary and main forks located whollywithout said supplementary fork.

9. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a wheel and its axle; asupplemental fork straddling the wheel and having the terminals of itsbranches pivotally connected with the axle; a pair of levers each havinga pivotal connection at one end with the axle and at the other end withthe terminal of the adjacent branch of the main axle; a member securedto each branch of the supplemental axle; and a spring connection betweeneach member and the adjacent lever.

10. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a wheel and its axle;a supplemental fork straddling the wheel and having the terminals of itsbranches pivotally connected with the axle; a pair of levers each havinga pivotal connection at one end with the axle and at the other end withthe terminal of the adjacent branch of the main axle; a member securedto each branch of the supplemental axle; a spring connection betweeneach member and the adjacent lever; and a member rigidly secured to eachbranch of the main fork and loosely engaged with the adjacent branch ofthe supplemental. fork, whereby movement of the last-named fork relativeto said members is permitted.

11. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a wheel and its axle;a supplemental fork straddling the wheel and having the terminals of itsbranches pivotally connected with the axle; a pair of levers each havinga pivotal connection at one end with the axle and at the other end withthe terminal of the adjacent branch of the main axle; a.

member secured to each branch of the supplemental axle; a springconnection between each member and the adjacent lever; and a memberrigidly secured to each branch of the main fork and provided with a pairof spaced guides between which the adjacent branch of the supplementalfork loosely passes, whereby movement of the last-named fork relative tosaid members is permitted.

12. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork; a wheel and its axle;a supplemental fork straddling the wheel and having the terminals of itsbranches pivotally connected with the axle; a pair of levers each havinga pivotal connection at one end with the axle and at the other end withthe terminal of the adjacent branch of the main axle; a member securedto each branch of the supplemental axle; a spring connection betweeneach member and the adjacent lever; and a member rigidly secured to eachbranch of the main fork and provided with a pair of spaced guide rollersbetween which the adjacent branch of the supplemental fork looselypasses, whereby movement of the last-named fork relative to said membersis permitted.

13. In a bicycle, the combination of a main fork having the terminals ofits branches provided with horizontally mounted revoluble sleeves; awheel and its axle; the ends of said axle being provided with sleeves; apair of levers perforated at each end, the perforations in the rear endsof the levers receiving the first-named sleeves, and those in the frontends thereof, the second-named sleeves; a supplemental fork straddlingthe wheel and having the terminals of its branches perforated for thereception of said second-named sleeves; a clamp secured to each branchof the supplemental fork;

and a spring connection between each clamp and the adjacent lever.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY C. PRESTON, J R. Witnesses HENRY C. PRESTON, HARVEY EWING.

